Aaditya Thackeray on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Maharashtra government over the newly presented state budget, alleging that it prioritises contractors instead of addressing the real concerns of citizens.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader described the financial plan as an “Alice in Wonderland budget,” claiming that the proposals outlined by the government appear disconnected from the ground reality faced by people across the state.
According to Thackeray, many of the announcements mentioned in the budget speech are either previously announced policies or long-term goals pushed far into the future, making them impractical for the current situation.
Questions Raised Over Farm Loan Waiver
One of the major issues raised by Thackeray relates to the government’s farm loan waiver scheme. During the budget presentation, Devendra Fadnavis announced the Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana, under which eligible farmers with crop loans pending as of September 30, 2025 will receive a waiver of up to ₹2 lakh.
However, Thackeray questioned the clarity of the scheme, asking which farmers would actually qualify and how the process would be implemented. He also pointed out that the government has not provided a clear timeline for the rollout of the programme.
The Chief Minister additionally announced a ₹50,000 incentive for farmers who repay their crop loans on time, saying the measure is meant to encourage responsible borrowing and ease financial stress in the agriculture sector.
Criticism Over Environmental and Infrastructure Promises
Thackeray also mocked the government’s plan to plant 300 crore trees, calling the announcement ironic at a time when large-scale tree cutting has been criticised in several infrastructure projects.
He further alleged that despite massive spending on public works, the quality of infrastructure projects remains poor. In a post on social media platform X, he pointed to road construction issues and highlighted the Mira Bhayandar flyover project undertaken by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority as an example.
“The bigger issue is that even with this level of spending on contractors, the quality of work is extremely poor,” Thackeray wrote.
Government Defends Budget Vision
While the opposition criticised the budget, Chief Minister Fadnavis described the financial plan as a roadmap for Maharashtra’s long-term growth.
He stated that the state aims to strengthen its role as the country’s economic engine and work towards becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2047.
The budget also includes several major infrastructure announcements, including expansion of metro networks, new tunnels in major cities and the development of large transport projects such as the proposed Vadhavan port.
According to the government, these projects are expected to boost connectivity, support economic growth and generate employment across the state.
However, opposition leaders remain sceptical, arguing that the government must focus more on immediate issues affecting citizens rather than making long-term promises.
